Day 28, 29, 30, 31 - and that's all folks!

Yep, that's right we have reached the end of January... which means we have now reached the end of my January challenges of 15 new starts in 15 days, and 31 days of stitching either new starts or old WIP's - and I did it!!!  Well, really it wasn't that hard, was it?  I just had to stitch every day and be a bit organised and do some pre-planning.

The last couple of starts were all smalls and free gifts that I had in my stash as my stitching time in the evenings wasn't a lot this last week and I had to make the most of it!

So what did I start for the last 4 days?

Day 28 - The third mouse in the Margaret Sherry Christmas mouse trio.  More purple!!

Christmas Mouse #3 - designed by Margaret Sherry

I managed to get a good start on this one on Thursday night as Hubby was out so I had a quick early tea when I got home from work and then started stitching!  I am looking forward to getting back to these three meeces in the next couple of weeks and hopefully getting them finished before the end of the year!

Day 29 - Free Gift from The World of Cross Stitching magazine (WOCS) - unfortunately I can't remember what issue it is as the chart was separated from the mag when I first decided to stitch it!

This is a Helz Cuppleditch design and it is just so cute!  I really like her designs and have collected a few now that have been in the UK magazines.

Flowerpot Kitten - designed by Helz Cuppleditch

As this is a free kit I am using the included aida and threads.  Although I am sort of thinking I should have changed the fabric to a nice coloured one.... but I will stick with what I have started now!

Day 30 - Free Gift from The World of Cross Stitching magazine (WOCS) - unfortunately again the chart was separated from the mag and I had forgotten to write the issue number on it!

This one is the adorable Fizzy Moon!

Fizzy Moon

Not many stitches on this one on Friday night.  I was a bit side tracked when I got home from work on Friday night and I didn't really get going til late and then it was time for bed!  But a start is a start even if its only about 20 stitches!

Day 31 - another Margaret Sherry design, and another freebie! This one is from Cross Stitch Crazy issue 171 and is a Christmas kitty.  Do you think I like kitties??

Merry Christmas Kitten - designed by Margaret Sherry

I know yesterday was a Saturday and normally I would get a few more stitches in than this... but we went to see Les Misérables at the Crown Theatre and by the time we got home last night I didn't have a lot of hours left for stitching!  But we loved the show... first time seeing Les Misérables for Hubby but I had seen it many years ago (like about 20 or more!) when it came to Perth for the first time. This would have to be my all time favourite theatre/musical... just love the show and the music. Always brings a tear or two to my eyes when I hear songs like "Bring him home" and "On my Own". This new touring cast was amazing!

So that's it for the January challenges.... I am toying with the idea of continuing into February and making it 59 days of stitching on something new or an old WIP, but actually I think that I now need to concentrate on finishing some of these lovely new starts.... that doesn't mean to say that I won't have some new starts in February as I actually have one lined up to start once I get off the computer!! And I have couple of others that I meant to start in January but didn't so with a bit of luck they will get a showing in February!

Overall I have really loved doing the January challenges, and while I know that I have a lot of WIP's now... the challenge has got me right back into stitching and blogging again, and that is a good thing!   Now I just have to keep up the momentum and continue for the year as I started the first month!  Thank you to everyone that has read my posts and commented on them - all your comments are greatly appreciated and I have tried to respond to every comment except for those that were a "no-reply" blogger (with those ones I have tried to find your blog on your google profile and where I can I have tried to repay your comment with a comment).  I am still getting around to catching up on my blog reading so that it is next challenge to conquer!

Til my next post, happy stitching!

If you want to have a look at any of my previous updates for the FB CrosstitchCrazy Event and Debbie's Ultimate Crazy January Challenge 2015 (DUCJC2015) the links are below:

Day 1 - Winter Witch    Day 2 - "Eek!"    Day 3 - "Prancer"  Day 4 - "Autumn Fab Fob"    Day 5 - "Comet"    Day 6 - "Koala"  Day 7 - "Sneak Peek - Halloween"    Day 8 - "Printemps"    Day 9 - "été"
Day 10 - "Joyeux Noel"    Day 11 - "Feeling Festive"    Day 12 - "New Year's Magic"  Day 13 - "Grumpy Kitty"    Day 14 - "Happy Howloween"   Day 15 - "Happy Owl O Ween"    Day 16 - WIP "Faces of JE Mystery SAL"   Day 17 - WIP "Lizzie Kate's Jingles"    Day 18 - "Witch & Friends"
Day 19 - "Mini Mandala II - C"     Day 20 - WIP "Spring Bouquet"  Day 21 - WIP "Bonsai & Buddha"    Day 22 - Katie Kitty  Day 23 - Peter Polar Bear     Day 24 - MS Christmas Mouse #1  Day 25 - Mary Mouse  Day 26 - You are so Loved  Day 27 - MS Christmas Mouse # 2  Day 28 - MS Christmas Mouse #3  Day 29 - Flowerpot Kitten   Day 30 - Fizzy Moon   Day 31 - MS Christmas Kitten

Til next time, Happy Stitching

Day 13 - Crazy Start # 13 - Grumpy Kitty

Grumpy Cat (or I should say Grumpy Kitty) won the battle of the new starts last night.  I almost didn't get a stitch in last night as I had a last minute change of mind as to what I was going to stitch which meant I had to find fabric and threads for this delicious looking feline....

I told you that I had some more of Brooke Nolan's designs that I wanted to stitch and this little grumpy girl was at the top of that list....

"Merry Christmas Grumpy Kitty" - Brooke Nolan (Brooke's Books)

Isn't she just a cutie with her grumpy little face?  I am stitching her on a small swatch of "Arabian Nights" from Stitches and Spice.  This is the same fabric that "Comet" and "Prancer" are being stitched on.

"Grumpy Kitty" is another Freebie from Brooke Nolan's webpage and the link is here if you would also like to stitch her.

Brooke has a lovely range of designs and is very generous with the freebies that she has on her website.  I have plans to stitch the Advent Animals at some point this year as well as a couple of her Halloween designs.

Brooke has also designed the most gorgeous four seasons vintage style designs....

Image from Brooke Nolan's Etsy Store

These designs have been drawn and charted to fit the Tammy Bag pattern by Ms. Apple Heart for "Madame Samm's Tammy 4 All Seasons blog hop" at www.sewwequilt.com. The blog hop runs from 9th January to 20th January 2015, but the charts are now available to everyone on Brooke's Etsy store. I didn't join the blog hop as I can't sew to save myself ... but I so want to stitch these designs.  They are just so delightful!

See you tomorrow with my Day 14 update.....

Previous updates for the FB CrosstitchCrazy Event and Debbie's Ultimate Crazy January Challenge 2015 (DUCJC2015) are listed below if you missed them:

Day 1 - Winter Witch
Day 2 - "Eek!"
Day 3 - "Prancer"
Day 4 - "Autumn Fab Fob"
Day 5 - "Comet"
Day 6 - "Koala"
Day 7 - "Sneak Peek - Halloween"
Day 8 - "Printemps"
Day 9 - "été"
Day 10 - "Joyeux Noel"
Day 11 - "Feeling Festive"
Day 12 - "New Year's Magic"

Til next time, Happy Stitching!
Hugs xx

What an amazing day we had!

Who would believe such pleasure from a wee ball o' fur?

~ Irish Saying ~

Scottish/British Shorthair Kittens

Yesterday Hubby and I had the most amazing afternoon!  We were asked by my baby sister if we could go and visit a cat breeder (CB) that she had been speaking to about a Ragdoll kitten.  Now for us this was a small road trip as we live south of the river and the place we were going to is east of the city - which meant we went for a lovely drive of an hour, fifteen minutes - no real hardship for a lovely afternoon out and the reward at the end of the journey was more than worth it!  As you will see...

We ended up spending three and half hours with the most amazing lady - yes, I did say 3 & 1/2 hours.... CB is the most fascinating lady and we had a brilliant time talking to her about her cats and her life and her research into the health and welfare of cats and rabbits (she used to also breed rabbits!).

CB breeds Ragdolls, British Shorthairs, Scottish Shorthairs and Scottish Folds.  My sister has wanted a Ragdoll for years and now the time has come for her to finally get one!  My sister lives four hours away from Perth so it's not easy for her to get down to Perth at the drop of hat to check out potential kittens, hence the mission she sent us on to see the kittens and check out the breeder.

The newest edition to the Family

While we were at the breeders we saw three litters of Ragdolls and spoke to my sister via "facetime" so that she and kids (and the dog!) could see all the kittens... love modern technology!  She was particularly after a blue point male... which narrowed down the choice quite well, and believe me it would have been very hard to choose one if my sister wasn't so certain of her 'dream" kitty!  There were 2 blue point males available to choose from, as well as seal point and cream point so it was just as well my sister knew what she wanted! We did show her all the other ones as well, of course... but this little boy in the picture above was the favourite!

Shall I show you the one that Hubby fell in love with and would have quite happily taken home if we didn't already have two amazing kitties?

Isn't he adorable?

He ended up falling asleep in Hubby's arms and he did seem to be very happy to stay there!

Kitty and his siblings

Then there was this little sweetheart....

Now I could have taken this one home!

While we had the other shorthair kitties out the breeder bought out this sweet little chocolate shorthair.  He curled up in my hands and went to sleep for at least an hour....

Now look closely at the photo above and you can see the the legs of a Blue Scottish Shorthair (nickname Cutie Pie) next to me. She was pregnant and due to drop her lovely bundle of kitties some time over the weekend - which she just so happened to decide to do while we were there!

Right in front of us......

In fact, Hubby ended up holding onto the moments old kitten while the breeder got Cutie Pie out of the bookcase where she had gone to have the first baby, and then took her back to her bed for the rest of the delivery!  Just amazing... and that was the second amazing thing that had happened during the afternoon. The first brilliant thing to happen was that another litter was also born about an hour after we got there (British Shorthairs) - the breeder had gone out of the room for a couple of minutes and when she came back she had these brand new kittens that needed attention as the mother wasn't quite doing her bit (first time mum) so we watched (as did my sister and her kids) while she rubbed and dried them and sorted out their umbilical cords and then she took them back to their mum for some love and care.

I haven't seen kittens or puppies born since I was a kid when our cats and dogs used to have their babies... it was such an amazing experience to be there when these brand new angels came into the world and it was such a privilege that Cutie Pie allowed us to be present when she had her first born (well first born from this litter anyway!)

So after three & half hours we left this amazing lady and her adorable feline friends on a huge high!  What an amazing afternoon - an afternoon that we will never forget!  Thank you CB and your beautiful kitties for allowing us to be a part of your life in such a wonderful way.

It is impossible to keep a straight face in the presence of one or more kittens

~ Cynthia E. Varnado ~

Crafting Mojo has returned!

Hello again!

Just a quick drop in post to say hello and to let you know that I am still on the planet Earth and breathing....
Most of you probably think I have dropped off the planet seeing as how I have been very quiet on the blogging front lately.. but no, I am still here!

As I have previously mentioned, not a lot of crafting has been done around here... but Friday I did manage to get hold of my little crafting mojo and hang on to it for a couple of hours and actually get some stuff done!

Firstly I made some more counting pins with some of the new beads I bought recently.  I tried out a different glue this time - Glossy Accents.  So will be interested to see if they hold as well the beading glue that I normally use.  I decided to use some red and green beads so that I can have some as Christmas gifts.

New beaded counting pins

I also managed to finished off my next kitty card for the Craftbubble birthday exchange.

Finished kitty card for CB Crazy for Kitties exchange

Last weekend was the IHSW and while I didn't manage to get a lot of stitching done I did actually get around to starting my card for the Margaret Sherry Yahoo group Christmas card exchange that I am taking part in.

Christmas Mouse
Designer - Margaret Sherry

I finished stitching this little mouse on Friday as well.  I now need to turn this into a card... which I will try and do this afternoon all things being equal!

I also have to start stitching my next Margaret Sherry design for the MS Lovers Blog Winter/Christmas ornament exchange.  Design is all picked out and threads are all ready to go... just need to start stitching!

Now before I go I will leave you with a picture of the most delightfully yummy blueberries that we picked this morning!  We have been having fresh blueberries for the last couple of weeks but this is the biggest haul we have had so far... yummy!

Fresh blueberries from the garden :o)

Well, that's it for now from me!  I must go and do some crafting and get my next card finished so that it can go in the mail this week.

So it is bye bye from me, and bye bye from Mitzi.

Til next time, happy stitching

Totally Useless SAL - New Moon 15 October 2012 Update

Oh my goodness... here we go again!  Another ORT report and another month has by without a post from me....  No excuses just one little itty bitty reason -

Mitzi!!

Nothing much seems to get done around here since a certain puppy arrived... no stitching or crafting, no blogging, no housework!  But we wouldn't be without her.  She is an absolute delight.  Slowly but surely she is growing and every day a little bit more of her brain is delivered.  For the most part she has got the toilet training right although every now and then we have a wee accident indoors...  Oscar is Mitzi's new best friend, but Felix is a lot more reserved and is still not quite there yet.

Now down to what this post should be about... the ORT report!

ORT's, Dragon and Pumpkin

Seeing as how it is October and the other half of the world is going into Autumn and is pumpkin mad, I thought I would take this month's photo with the last of our pumpkin crop from earlier in the year.  Our new crop of pumpkins are just starting to put their little heads out of the ground so hopefully we will have another great crop this season.

The ORT's jar is filling up slowly.  I have almost finished my Margaret Sherry Cool Cat #3 (Spring) but have had to put him away for a couple of weeks as I need to get some stitching done on a couple of cards and an exchange piece.

While there hasn't been a lot added this last month to the ORT jar, I did manage to finish the stitching of my kitty card last night.

Colourful cat designed by Jane Henderson
Cross Stitcher magazine, April 2007

Well dear readers, that's it for another ORT report.  See you all again same time next month... Pop on over to Daffycat's blog if you are interested keeping in touch with what is going on with the 2012 TUSAL.

Now before I wander off to bed.... struggling to stay awake after being woken up at 4am yet again this morning by a beautiful puppy....

On Friday I went to a "Meet the Author" event to meet one of my favourite authors - Monica McInerney.

Me and Monica McInerney (R) after she signed my book

Monica is currently back in Australia doing a tour promoting her latest book "House of Memories".  She is a lovely lady and it was wonderful to hear her talk about how her writing and also how she got the idea for this book.  I am always fascinated by people that can write wonderful stories... how amazing it must be to have a idea that grows and evolves into a story that people like you and me then sit down and read and have hours of enjoyment while lost in a book.  The "House of Memories" was a wonderful story... I started it on Wednesday before going to the event and finished it Friday night.  I just couldn't put it down on Friday... if you haven't read it yet... try and get a hold of the book - it is such a wonderful read - happy, sad and every emotion in between.  Can't wait til Monica's next book comes out... which will be a couple of years away though.

Til the next new moon on 13 November 2012, happy stitching and may your collection of ORT's keep growing!

New Moons - 2012

13 November

13 December

Here kitty, kitty, kitty!

Oh my goodness, 3 posts in 3 days!!  We can't have that now, can we?!?

Now I promised you a stitching update and here it is...

My latest finish is the second cat from the MS Lovers Blog SAL #3.  As I mentioned in a previous post I started this kitty on the plane going over to Hong Kong.  I am so pleased that I was able to stitch on the flight there and back as I have been wanting to get this cat started and finished for ages!

Cool Cats - Winter
designed by Margaret Sherry
MS Lovers Blog SAL #3

Winter kitty will be finished as a cushion sometime soon.  I bought some material at Spotlight the other day to make the cushion but now I'm not so sure that it's right for the cushion.  But that's ok it can go into the cupboard and be used at a later date for something else.  I will look for something else next time we go up to the quilt shops in Midland.

I also have a finished kitty card to show you.  This is the kitty that I was stitching a couple of weeks ago for the Craftbubble Crazy for Kitties birthday exchange.

Crazy Kitty designed by Durene Jones
Cross Stitch Crazy, Issue 168

The card was a very quick finish as I was late (as per usual) sending it to the UK.  There are 2 birthdays left in 2012 that I need to stitch for and then we will be done and dusted for another year.  The next birthday on the list is mine...

Recently I also finished stitching this cute little panda.  He was a freebie with the Cross Stitch Card Shop magazine.  I'm not sure what I will do with this yet but originally I was going to make him into a card.  May still do that yet - stay tuned!

And one last little stitching finish... a little sampler style pin cushion.  Not finished as a pin cushion yet but think I might have a go at doing that this afternoon....

Pretty Pin Cushion - free gift
Cross Stitcher magazine, May 1999
Designer unknown

Before I sign off, just a reminder that this weekend is the IHSW (International Hermit and Stitch Weekend). IHSW is hosted by Joyce at Random Ramblings, so wander on over and sign up for the weekend and stitch!  I hope that this weekend is a real stitchy weekend for me but I guess that will just depend on a bit on the weather and a certain little puppy.

This weekend is also the weekend for a TUSAL update.  Sunday 16th September is the new moon so we will all be reporting on what ORT's have been added to our little jars.  I have managed to put some in my jar this month which is great...  will have to see where we find the ORT's hiding this month for their photo opportunity.

So that's it for this little stitching update, see you all again after the weekend with the IHSW and ORT reports.

Til next time, happy stitching

Giveaways Wins!

Hello again!  What's this I hear you say, 2 posts in as many days!  (Well, truth be known it is really 2 posts in 1 day... I have just cheated and used the post options to schedule this post to pop up in your readers at 9am Saturday morning!  I do so love that feature :o)

Ok dear readers, so what's this title about - more Giveaway Wins for me!  Yep, that's right this lucky little doer has won not one but two giveaways this week!!

Firstly, I had an email from Nancy at The Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe.  Nancy has had a number of giveaways running which I have been entering in an attempt to win some of her gorgeous hand-dyed threads, kits, etc.  Well, guess what - I won!!  So what did I win - I won part of Nancy's Valentine's Day giveaway - 10 skeins of lovely hand-dyed floss.  Ooh, I so can't wait to see this turn up in the post box.  I will have to put my thinking cap on and try and find the perfect projects to stitch with these special threads.  Thank you Nancy.

So after doing a happy dance about the lovely floss from Nancy, I then had an email from Mary Joan at Mary Joan Stitching.  Mary Joan had a giveaway to celebrate her 4th Blogoversary.  The giveaway was a selection of 7 lovely charts/booklets from her stash.  And yes!  I won this one too....  Oh my goodness, double happy dance!  There are some lovely Christmas charts in the stash additions she is sending which I can't wait to get my hands on!  Thank you so much Mary Joan.

How excited am I this week - two giveaway wins and two delightful packages on their way to my little post box.  February has been a good month :o)

I have been thinking about a giveaway myself but so far I haven't come up with a cunning plan.... but in the stew and fog that is supposed to be my brain an egg of a plan is beginning to hatch!  So as they say in all the good editorials - watch this space.  I just can't guarantee how long you will have to watch for?!?!!?

Now speaking of giveaways, I have been updating my sidebar with giveaways as I see them, but I am a bit behind with my blog maintenance this month so I think I have missed one or two... sorry.  But hopefully I can get back to regular maintenance plan soon!  I know that there are some great giveaways out there at the moment - Nancy at The Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe has regular giveaways and currently has a couple of different ones going on as we speak.

Remember I mentioned that Kaye from Kitten Stitching did a post where she asked everyone what she was dressed up like and I had guessed correctly that she looked like a Gondolier.  Well, the little gift arrived from Kay this week.  She sent me a lovely Laura Ashley shopping bag, a Lizzie Kate chart, and 2 momento's from her trip to Hawaii.  So sweet - thank you so much Kay.  I will enjoy using them all and think of you often :o)

Lovely gift from Kay (Kitten Stitching)

As I mentioned in an earlier post, Hubby and I recently treated ourselves to an iPhone.  It was a toss up between an iPhone or an iPad and as I wanted one too.... it ended up being 2 iPhones!!  Which now means that I have the means to read blogs on my way to and from work.  Which I have been doing through this wonderful app called "Byline'.  I found out about this app from another blog and it is so good.....  Now the reason I mention this is because on a couple of blogs there was mention of a competition to show photos of funny places that your pets have been found sleeping.  For the life of me though I can't remember who's blog I read it on... so I will do some research over the weekend and find out and then update this post...

But... while at the moment I don't have a photo to hand of some strange places I have found the cats asleep - like Oscar curled up in the bathroom sink in the middle of the night! - I do have a couple of photos that I took of Felix on Friday.  I had the feather duster out as I was doing some dusting - now please don't fall off your chairs - yes I did do some dusting!  Housework and I don't agree with each other but occasionally we do have to live and work together!!

I had finished wrapping the duster around the venetian blinds a few times and came into the kitchen to make a much needed cup of tea and left the duster on the kitchen bench.  Next time I saw it, the duster was on the floor with the tea towel and Felix was playing with it..... and subsequently sneezing!

I so need to brush my cat!

I have no idea what he thought the duster was but it was fun watching him for the 10 mins or so that he played with it.  But after that the dust got too much for him and he ignored the duster while he sneezed and sneezed and kept on sneezing!  Poor thing - last time he cuddles a feather duster!

Well that's it for another post!  Hopefully March will be a month of more regular posts and blog maintenance and lots more stitching!

Til next time, happy stitching

The end of another weekend....

I think I have asked this question before and I will most likely be asking it again... where has the weekend gone?

It is Sunday night and it is almost bedtime.... Hubby is watching Harry Potter and I have been trying to catch up on my blog reading - I was doing quite well until blogger decided to stop letting me comment on blogs.  So I must apologise to those of you that I have visited and caught up on the news but haven't left a comment on.

We have had a reasonably quiet weekend, although yesterday was busy as we went to visit some friends and then had to do the food shopping and then Saturday was over....  Today has been a very quiet day - not much happening once the ironing was done; which is good as we were both quite knackered after a busy week at work. 

Friday was my day off and boy did I need it!  I had a doctor's appointment and then later on in the morning had a hairdresser's appointment, and I also checked the mail at the post box as I generally do on a Friday.  Now why do I mention the mail do you ask... well this is why...

During December Nia from Caixinha de Pirlimpimpim had a "12 days of Christmas" post-a-thon where she posted about different things over 12 days and each day added a small gift to a stocking.  At the end of the Christmas postings she then picked the winners.  Nia had asked everyone to comment on a post about what they would like to win and I mentioned that I would like to win the little snow globe...  I didn't win at the time but Valerie from Fee le point did win the stocking.  She had mentiooned in your comment to Nia that if she won the stocking she would send me the snow globe... and that is what appeared in the mail.   All unknown to me as I hadn't actually seen Valerie's comment!

And here is my lovely new snow globe in all it's wonderful glory... and a cute little penguin card :o)

What a lovely surprise - this really made my day.  Thank you Valerie for your special gift and thank you Valerie and Nia for your generosity and friendship.

Last weekend I finally managed to finish the two cards that I was stitching for the February birthdays in the Craftbubble "Crazy for Kitties" birthday exchange.  They both hit the mail cart on Monday and hopefully will arrive in the UK in the next day or so.

Kitty card for Evaline

 

Kitty card for Julie

Now before I wander off to bed, as it is now almost my bedtime, there is just one more little mention I must make...

Kaye from Kitten Stitching did a post the other day about a conference that she want to in Sanctuary Cove, and for the Gala Dinner, which was fancy dress (British Muscians/Musicals), Kaye was dressed up as someone from a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta.... well I thought she looked like a Gondolier and said as much in my comment.  I guessed right!  Yippee... little happy dance happening here in my little part of the world!

Well that's it from me for now!  It is now well past my bedtime... Harry Potter is just finishing - "He who must not be named" has the Elder Wand from Dumbledore's grave..... have to wait for the next instalment to see if Harry saves the day!

Night night, sleep tight, see you all again real soon!

Until next time, happy stitching

New Moon on Monday...

Oops, no sorry that is a post for tomorrow, and I also think that title is a Duran Duran song (and yes I am well and truly the age to remember Duran Duran!!)  So if I am going to do my New Moon and TUSAL post tomorrow, then what am I yabbering on about today?

Well, today is a report back on the International Hermit and Stitch Weekend (IHSW).

I didn't get quite as much stitching done over the weekend as I had originally planned but I did get started on the new kitty card.  It is about half way done so that is a result.

Since getting my iphone a couple of weeks ago I have become addicted to it... and Dragonvale!!  So now I have to divide my weekend time around housework, washing, ironing (yuck), blogging (like), cross stitch (like) and Dragonvale (addicted)....  oh and don't forget the furbabies and hubby!!  (double like)

The kitty design that I am now stitching is from the Cross Stitch Crazy magazine issue 137.  The designs are nice bright kitties with colourful flowers.  Just the right design to send to someone in the UK with a February birthday!

"Cool for Cats" designed by Lesley Teare
Cross Stitch Crazy, Issue 137 May 2010

Hopefully next month I will be a lot more productive during the IHSW.  If you want to know more about this wonderful weekend stitch event pop on over to Joyze's blog and have a read and maybe make a note to sign up for next month.   The link to the info page is on my side bar or you could just go from here ... http://joysze.blogspot.com/p/international-hermit-and-stitch-weekend.html

Now before I leave you I have to share a photo of my little kitty.  We were sorting out the spare bedroom for my step-son (Jack is going to come and stay with us for a wee while now that he has finished University and is about to start his job as a Graduate Mining Engineer) and the boys had to help - as they do!  We put a plastic bag (recycled shopping bag) into the waste paper bin and no sooner had we done that and Felix decided that he wanted to sleep in the bin.

First he had to knock the bin over and remove the plastic bag.  I swear to you that he pulled that bag out all by himself... no human help or kitty help involved!

  

And now he fits beautifully in the bin.  No waste paper bin is safe when Felix is around.  Whenever he sees one of these small bins he loves to turn them over on their side to see what's in there.  And they do make such lovely kitty sleep spots.

So til tomorrow when I will be back to show you my pathetically small number of ORT's for January, safe stitching!

Where in the world....

Where in the world has January gone?  I can't believe that it is nearly 3 weeks since the new month and year started.... and nearly 3 weeks since I posted anything on my blog!  How time flies!  I must apologise for neglecting you all.

And what is my excuse reason?  Well... I don't have one!  I can't even tell you that I have been doing lots of stitching as I have been very slack on that side of things as well!

I did however spend the last week of our time off work scanning some of the charts from my magazines.  Hubby and I have started to tidy up and organise our craft room and as part of the tidy up I thought that I'd start scanning the charts and de-clutter my side of the room.  Of course by de-cluttering I mean make room for more stash!!

It's amazing how long de-cluttering takes!  By the time I played around each day scanning charts I didn't feel like stitching...

But... I did manage to make a start and now it's a finish.  I have been stitching a card for the Craftbubble "Crazy for Kitties" birthday exchange.  I need to do another one by the end of the weekend so that they can both be mailed and hopefully arrive in the UK by the first week of February.


Free Gift - Cross Stitcher issue January 1998
Sttiched for CB "Crazy for Kitties" birthday exchange

It's amazing what you find when you start to de-clutter your stash.  This little gem of a kitty was a free gift many moons ago (January 1998 to be precise) in the UK Cross Stitcher magazine.  Overall it was a very quick and easy stitch, however due to my lack of mojo it did take a couple of weeks... a couple of weeks too long!  I now need to get my skates on a bit and get the second one stitched for the February birthdays.

So it's just as well that I have decided to join the International Hermit and Stitch Weekend for 2012.  Joyce (Random Ramblings) is hosting the IHSW again this year and this time round I have decided to join in too.  If you would like to sign up for the January IHSW, which occurs this weekend, pop on over to Joyce's blog and sign up quick sticks!

I have spent the day catching up on all my blog reading and while I have not completely caught up I am nearly there!  Everyone has been very busy doing all these wonderful SAL's, Crazy for January stitching, WIPocalypse, and general stitching - I am quite jealous of all the beautiful things that you have all stitched over the last few weeks.  Well done :o)

It's time for me to say bye bye!  I must now go and find some new design to stitch over the weekend and hopefully fill my ORT's jar up!  There's not many ORT's sitting in the jar at the moment.... so my TUSAL post next week will be very lean I fear!

So til next time, happy stitching

It's a very revealing Secret Squirrel time

Ssh... it's Secret Squirrel time!

While I can't reveal what I have done for my Margaret Sherry Lovers Blog Christmas Card Exchange I can tell you that it is finished and I have now sent it on it's way to Portgual.  All will be revealed around Christmas Eve/Day.  So stay tuned!

But don't panic Mr Mannering... I can reveal something to you!

Today is the reveal day for the Craftbubble "Crazy for Kitties" Christmas Card Exchange.  I have previously shown you what I sent to Sue in the UK, but I haven't shown you what I received until now.

"Crazy for Kitties" Christmas Card exchange from Sue

After unwrapping the packages from Sue (with a little bit of help from the boys) I had to read the book straight away.  It was a lovely book... all about a sweet little kitten who helped an NZ family through a very touch time.  If you get the chance to read this book make sure you have a box of tissues with you!  I checked out Helen's website and it appears that there may very well be a movie coming out sometime next year.

Now while I can't show you my Margaret Sherry Christmas card I can show what else I have been working on over the last couple of weeks.  The CB "Crazy for Kitties" group also did a Christmas Ornament exchange and I stitched a kitty ornament for Maribeth in the USA.  That was mailed today.  Two finishes in one weekend... must be a record!!

Kitty Ornament for Maribeth (Crazy for Kitties Exchange)
"Merry Kittens Ornaments" - Dimensions

My Christmas Tree
We haven't decorated the bottom in an attempt
 to keep the boys away from the ornaments!

Daisy dog all dressed up for Christmas!
(Woof- get these things off me Mum - woof)

Well lovely bloggers I must finish this post in a bit of a hurry as we have a raging thunderstorm outside tonight.  It has been around since about 4.30pm this afternoon and while it was eased off for about 10 mins or so, it is now back with a vengence and with each thunderclap and lightning strike the power is now flickering.... so I think it's time to say goodnight!  Plus the battery is about to run out on the laptop as is my battery - it is way past my bedtime!!

So before I turn into a pumpkin.. night night, see you all again real soon